Kisses

Last night Charlie gave Ryan a big we kiss before bed. After the kiss she wiped her mouth and giggled, then said "that was a marriage kiss. You know, you kiss on the mouth when you get married."

Just Random Cute Things

Everytime Bev hears a loud noise she yells, "Wah' Dat?" and looks around much like you'd hear a Saints fan yell, "Who Dat?"

Everytime Ryan gets out of the shower, she dries off in the bathroom and then runs upstairs as fast as she can, buck naked which means she has to run through pretty much the whole house.

Cameron tells me that I'm his "braybrit mommy" but also likes to tease.  When I tell him that he is my favorite Cameron he tells me that I am HIS "braybrit" Cameron.

Cam loves to get close to wherever Charlie is and sing to him. You are My Sunshine is his current favorite to sing over and over.

Beverly falls down ALL. THE. TIME.

Today I was telling someone that Cameron really loves his mommy and he heard  and piped up "uh-uh I do"

Uh-Uh is Cam's new answer for everything. It could mean yes or no. It is very noncommital.

I can hear Jac singing in the shower. I always know she if she is happy because she sings to herself.

Cam also loves to sing and can carry a tune quite well.

Bev loves to sing now, but she CANNOT carry a tune.

Cameron and Bev were so excited to see that the corndog they got today had a hot dog inside. They kept yelling and telling me the great news.

Beverly is starting to talk a lot more. She yells pretty much everything she says, but she does talk more. When she wakes up she will tell me "wook, I up" and at least ten times a day I hear "ont duce" (meaning I want juice, meaning I am thirsty may I please have a drink?) And "Ah det owwwt?" (meaning I get out, meaning May I please get out?)

Beverly always need a kiss if she gets hurt. She can be the one to give it a kiss, as long as the owie gets a kiss.

Cameron always needs a bandaid if he gets hurt. The crying stops pretty quickly if a bandaid is applied.

Cameron studdied my face today and said "you are not mean at me?" I said no and he said "you are not mean at anyone?" He was checking to see if I was mad because I had just told a lady that I needed three extra hands since I was holding Charlie and trying to navigate a sharp turn in the long golf cart.

If anyone gets in trouble Cameron is the first to say in a know it all voice "but I am not (whatever the person is doing), see mommy, I'm not."

Ryan is making her lunch for tomorrow "so you guys don't have to get up early to do it" It is Halloween, she is wound up on candy, it is waaaaayy past bedtime. I think this idea has very little to do with her not wanting me to have to get up early.

I can hear Cameron snoring. He is exhauseted after this awesome Halloween we have had.

Jannica is growing up and maturing so well. What a sweet girl she is becoming.

Ryan had a piano party last night. She was nervous about playing in front of everyone, but after the party she let me know "I did really good. I think I was the best one there." When I asked how Jac did, she said she did good too, "but even if I messed up I fixed it, so I did my best."

Jannica did play well, she is so musically talented.

Beverly sits on the potty and yells, "MOMMY! I GO POOP, I GO POOP A-YAWT! I DET CAMBY NOW!" Whether she pooped or peed, she is very excited and ready for candy.

At one point today I had Bev on the potty, Cam on the little potty and Charlie needed a diaper change. I am surrounded by poop.

I love it when I am feeding Charlie and he catches my eye and smiles up at me as talks while his mouth is full.

The kids love Charlie. They love to talk to him, make him smile or coo. Ryan loves to hold him and is so patient with him. Cam pretends Charlie is kicking him in the head and then belly laughs. Beverly likes to bring him toys and look him in the eyes from 2 inches away.

Cam says I want to go play then slumps his shoulders and sighs "but I can't because I hab a broken leg." in the saddest voice you have ever heard.

Beverly follows me around the house copying my every move. I smile, but it almost makes me feel stupid, like she is moking me or something. She has this coy little smile while she does it.  

Hello Charlie!

I am slow to get this posted, but I wrote it while I was in the hospital. So glad I did, all the little details are so easily forgotten!  

  Thursday morning at 4 am Cameron woke up crying because his ear hurt. When Cameron is in pain EVERYONE is miserable. So I spent til 7 am trying to keep him happy and coax him into taking medicine to feel better. The girls got up and went to school and I told Kelly that I was having pretty painful contractions every 10 minutes or so. He was coming home early to get ready for our induction on Friday anyway so it was no big deal. I had had contractions before that had fizzled out so we did not expect much from these. I really did not want an induction this time though, so I was a little excited. At nine I got ahold of the doctor for Cam and they told me I could come in at 11:30, but the contractions were still coming so I mentioned that I was in labor and asked if could I come sooner. The lady told me to get in there right now. I loaded Cam and Bev up and we were off. The office staff got us right in and were so sweet. The doctor came in and checked Cam (who was a "berry brabe boy," just ask him) and found he had an ear infection and was wheezing. GREAT! The doctor told me good luck and we were out the door within 25 min of arriving. The contactions were now 7 min apart and I decided that if Cam was wheezing then maybe I better get Bev checked (her cough was worse and had been around longer).

     So we got into the other doctor (because why would I have my kids at the same doctor?) very quick and did not have to mention labor pains at all. The contractions slowed way down at this point and I was feeling a touch irritated. So Bev was checked and diagnosed with BRONCHITIS! Freakin! Just what I want to bring a baby home to, sick siblings.

     Next we were off to get luch for Ryan, because I had not packed one for her, then to the school, then back to chic-fil-a for drive thru lunch for the babies, over to Kroger for prescriptions and home. By the time I had come home it was 1230, I was grumpy, kids needed naps medicine and breathing treatments and I had called Kelly to tell him not to come home early because I was not getting induced because the kids were sick. I got Bev medicated and down to nap, and the contractions started up again. I texted Kelly to just come home because I was over this day, and got my grumpy boy down for a much needed nap.
     When Kelly got home the contractions picked up to every 7 minutes again, and I started cleaning. (Kelly's job was to watch the kids and make sure I was left alone). Ryan got off the bus, I left to get Jac from school to get her to church in time for a temple trip and then I ran to the bank to deposit co-op money.
     As I was going to the bank I called my sister and had two big contractions while I talked to her and then talked to another friend and had one while I talked to her, I could not talk to them during the contractions. I was getting excited again.
     So I got home, finished cleaning the bathroom, and did Bev's hair, the contractions stayed at 7 ish minutes but strong and steady. Kelly took Ryan and Cam to Cam's baseball game and Bev and I came 20 minutes later. As I drove five minutes to the field I had two contractions and then back to back ones walking from the car to the field. The game lasted 20 more minutes and by the end of the game the contractions were 2-5 minutes apart and I was ready to call the doctor. I had Kelly take the kids to their babysitters and told him to meet me at home.
When I got home I called the doctor and she told me to come in and have a baby. I was a little freaked by that point and called Kelly to tell him to get home. That guy must have been driving so fast because he was already on his way home. I packed up our last few things and got a popsicle and waited by the car for Kelly. He pulled up and we were off.
     I had several more contractions on the way to the hospital and told Kelly to park and we would walk in. It took FOREVER to walk in because I had so many contractions on the way in. But, we got there and they put us in a room.
     Labor and delivery was very busy and so we waited an hour for the nurse to come in and check me. When she came in (8:30pm) I was a five, and the doctor called and said she would be in to break my water after she finished dinner. The contractions were not horrible yet, but pretty painful and I was beginning to lean toward getting an epidural.
     I told the nurse I wanted an epidural at 9pm and she gave me IV fluids and monitored me for a while. The doctor came in and checked me at 9:45 and said I was at 7cm and asked if I wanted to keep going with no epidural. I was 100% sure that I did not, so she said she would break my water when the epidural was in. She walked out and things got crazy.
     I was shaking uncontrollably, I knew I was in transition but didn't want to say anything because I wanted the epidural. The nurse had me sit up on the edge of the bed and the contractions started being more painful than ever. I was moaning and wishing I could cry, but it hurt too bad. I was trying to relax and breathe through the contractions and was doing ok after the peak of each contraction. Kelly was in the hall for 2 contractions with a friend who had brought food for him and those were the worst two. I could handle sitting on the edge of the bed if Kelly was there. I yelled for the friend to leave and come back after the epidural and then Kelly was back. They say they didn't hear me, but I felt like I was screaming.
     At around 1030 the anesthesiologist came in for the epidural and as he was marking the spot on my back I had a pushing contraction. I told the nurse all panicky that I needed to push, and she told me we could stop the epidural at any time. The anesthesiologist said, "just hang on, I can get this in real quick." I was hurting so bad, I just wanted it in. So the anesthesiologist kept working, and I knew it wouldn't be fast, I have seen these done a ton of times, but I kept thinking that he would get it in and I would feel all better. Each contraction I had a stronger urge to push, and with one of the contractions my water broke. He got the epidural catheter in and gave me a dose of medicine as I yelled that the baby was coming, and why could I still feel everything?! The nurse told me to lay down, but I couldn't move. I  was so scared that he would come flying out of me.     
     So Kelly grabbed the top of me and helped me lay down and the nurse took a quick peek at the bottom of me and called the doctor and everyone in because the baby was right there. The doctor came in and before they could break the bed down she told me I could push. BUT IT STILL HURT! I kept asking why I could feel everything. But I had to push, the urge was just so strong. I was scared that I would tear in half, and Kelly says I screamed like in the movies one time. It is all such a blur but they were saying go ahead and push and then 2 seconds later telling me to stop pushing and then one more push and he was out and on my tummy instead of in it.
     Kelly suddenly appeared at the head of my bed, but he says he was there the whole time. I was worried because Charlie wasn't screaming, but they kept telling me he was breathing and was pink and was fine. He was just looking around and working on breathing and so mellow. At one point I tried to give him to the nurse to make sure he was ok, but they told me I couldn't because he was still attached to me. Then Kelly was cutting the cord and there we were with a new baby. It is still a blur.
With Cameron and Ryan it seemed like everything happened in slow motion, and was so peaceful. This baby came in a moment of chaos, but maybe that is because he just needed to be prepared for the chaos that was waiting for him at home.
We love our Charlie! He nurses like a champ, he does not cry for very long and is easily soothed. He is a beautiful little guy. I am so happy to finally have him here with us!

Bevs blessing

We did Bev's blessing, which is like a christening, Sunday Aug 12. We were worried she would freak out having to sit still in from of the whole congregation at church while a bunch of men laid their hands on her head. We did not need to worry at all! She sat in my lap and held so still. She did not make one peep and she just looked at all the arms of the guys laying their hands on her head.

Beverly Monique Kartchner is my sweet little two year old who has blessed my life and turned it upside down! We love you sweet girl and could not be happier you came to our family!

Forever Family!

Saturday Aug 11 2012 we were sealed together as a family for all of our lives on earth and through all the eternities.
I am so grateful for God's gift of temples on the earth where we can come closer to Him and more like him.
The kids were all so good that day.
 Cameron was his busy self, but at the end of a movie he was watching with the ladies at the temple, he started singing the last 2 lines of families can be together forever with the movie.The ladies thought he was just perfect.  When we had pulled up to the temple he busted into I love to see the temple, both verses. When we got to "the temple is the house of God where we are sealed together' he we sang together and he just grinned from ear to ear.
Jannica got to go do baptisms before with Kelly and his parents and my dad. As we were walking into the temple for the sealing she told me her cheeks were hurting because she just couldn't stop smiling.
Ryan was uncharacteristically quite, but I am pretty sure she was just taking it all in.
Bev was an ANGEL during the sealing. She walked right up and held very still. She watched Kelly the whole time and held our hands the whole time. When it was over she insisted on hugging everyone that walked past to tell us congratulations. I am sure she had no idea what was going on, she just knew it was a happy day and she felt good and safe.
The kids did not fight at the temple and everyone was so happy.
While Kelly and I were waiting for the ceremony to start, we were in the Celestial room and the baby just started going crazy in my belly. It was like he was saying, "Yes! I know the feeling in this room! I just came from a place like this and it is awesome!"
It was such a beautiful day!

Ten whole years!?

 What an awesome journey we started on 10 years ago!



We never thought we would EVER be this old.

 But here we are today, older, fatter, (balder) and up to our eyeballs in kids and all that comes with them. I sit here next to you on the couch and you surf your blackberry, Cameron is jumping from chair to couch, Bev is doing everything Cam is doing, Ryan is making biographies of our life with my phone, we anxiously wait for Jac to call us back and have a real conversation and the baby is turning somersaults in my belly. And I think... What on earth have we gotten ourselves into?
At least I am with my best friend through all of this.
Love you Kelly!
Happy ten year anniversary, I love our new bed.

Adoption Day!

As this day got closer and closer, Kelly and I barely let ourselves think about it. We felt confident that Beverly's birth father would stay out of the picture, but you can never be sure. I called the lawyer the Monday before court just to make sure everything was all set for the big day. When I spoke to the paralegal she told me that the birth father had contacted her at the end of May to verify court dates and she felt like he would probably show up at court.
I was trying not to freak out, and just kept praying that everything would be okay. The guy had had every opportunity to follow court protocol to get his child back (but didn't), we had offered to let him see her back in December, but he wasn't interested and we had not heard from him since. His only plan was to let Bev stay with his mother and he was no where near financially stable. Plus, the woman who did our home study said that in 35 years she had never seen any birth parent show up at court and get their child back. All this sounds very reasonable and not worrisome now, but we were still worried.
We wanted the kids there, but in the off chance that the birth father showed up, we asked a good friend to come and sit with us that could take the kids home if it turned into a mess. She was wonderful and the kids love her. Kelly and I sat with the kids on the second floor of the court house and watched the atrium for anyone that might look like the few descriptions I have had of Bev's birth father.
We sat for 15 loooooooong minutes and then the court clerk called us all into a conference room. Our lawyer had me sign 2 copies of a birth certificate request. We sat down, got the kids all settled with toys and crayons and then the Judge came in. Kelly and I had to stand and swear that the answers we gave would be truthful. The lawyer then began talking. Fast. He basically reiterated the story of how we got Bev, how the birth father was not involved, and then asked if we understood how the responsibilities of taking care of another child. (I thought to myself "we better, we have been doing it for a while now") but we just said yes.
Then the judge piped up and looked like he was going to ask a hard question, but the all he asked was how many copies of the adoption decree we wanted. He told us the case would be closed and would need a court order to ever have it opened again. He said that we would be on the birth cretificate as the parents of this child. Then he stood up. Then everyone else stood up. And I just sat there and looked around. I looked at the clerk, and asked if we were done. She smiled and said yes. I got all weapy and told her that it had been a long 8 months. We got up and took pictures and the judge told me I could stop worrying now. Apparently I looked a little nervous.
After all of our ups and downs, worrying and gaurding our hearts she is finally ours! She belongs with our family and no where else. I truly felt that before I had even met this little spit fire. I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven that he placed this sweet angel in our lives.

The Judge wanted a picture with us. He said that this was the happy part of his job. It was a happy part of mine too!




This is a common occurance at the house. It usually ends in a wrestle match though.



I told them to show me what their faces looked like when they found out Bev was their sister for real.